The Ballerina Cardigan Tutorial

Anyone remember when I made this for my daughter last February? Yeah. I was planning on having this tutorial done a long time ago, but I didn’t like the pictures of the how to process I took when making that one, so it went on my list of things to do. I finally got to it though! Yippee!

Before we get started, let me say this is more of a how I made it kind of tutorial than specific measurements and all. If you don’t understand what I’m trying to explain, hopefully the pictures will help make it clearer 🙂 And you can always email me with any questions.

To make this you will need:

-Knit fabric

-Scissors

-A shirt pattern to alter or a shirt to use to make your own pattern

-Pins

Notes:

-Always back stitch when done sewing unless told not to.

-I highly recommend using a needle that is designated for sewing knits (ballpoint)

-If knit fabric is slipping around and hard to cut, I recommend starching it.

-Finish any raw edges that you like, but not necessary.

You can use a pattern or make one yourself. I just took a shirt that fit my daughter and folded it in half. I also folded over the sleeves and the bottom to where I wanted it to be. Then I folded the fabric in half, with the fabric stretch going horizontal, and cut around the shirt leaving room for seam allowance. Then I took that piece and cut 2 more pieces on the fold for the front part.

For the sleeves, take your cut out piece and use that for a guide for how long to make the sleeve edge that connects to the body piece. Fold fabric in half so the stretch is vertical on the sleeve piece. I used a long sleeve shirt to determine the width on the wrist end and the length. Make sure to leave enough for a seam allowance on the side and at the end. Cut two out.

*I forgot a picture, but you will also want to cut out two pieces for the ties. For the length, you want them to be long enough to wrap around the waist at least once. I always make them longer and then cut any extra off if necessary. For the width, that is up to you. If you want the ties to be skinner, make them not as wide. Just make sure to add at least 1″ to the width for seam allowance.

For the front, take two of the three main pieces and fold them in half. You will want to cut them down further in the center of each piece since it will be in the front.

Now take one side and cut from the front top middle down as far as you like. You want to make sure that the bottom side edge is long enough for the ties to be sewn onto. Use this piece as a guide to cut the same part off of the second piece, just have it cut off on the opposite side because they overlap like in the picture below.

This is what the two front pieces look like overlapping.

Next, pin the two front pieces to the back piece at the shoulders. Make sure fabric is together right sides facing. Also make sure to have the correct piece on each side of the front.

Next, open up a sleeve and pin it to the open armhole. Fabrics will be right sides facing. Then sew together. Repeat for the other side.

Place cardigan down and match up the sides and pin in place, right sides facing. Sew down sides of arms and body.

Turn right side out and turn fabric under around the inside front about 1/4″. Sew it down.

I sew one line really close to the fold and then another further in right beside it. You can then trim the inside raw edge to make it look neater.

Take both tie pieces and fold the top down 1/2″ and sew down. Again, I did two rows.

Take one tie and place on a front side bottom piece. The seam you just sewed on the tie will be at the top and the fabrics will be right sides facing. Sew together. Repeat for the other side.

Again, I forgot a picture of this (sorry!), but fold the bottom of the ties and the cardigan bottom under 1/2″ and sew in place (I did two lines again). Then fold over the tie ends and sew in place.

This is a picture of the top of the tie. You can trim the raw edges underneath if any are very long or uneven.

For the sleeves, I just sewed two lines around the hole and left the edges raw. You can fold them under if you like. Then sew on a label if you like and you are good to go.

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